2023 NDMEA Elections
Voting Open from February 15-March 15th, 2023.
Results will be shared at our General Meeting March 23rd at 1:30 PM.
Meet The East Rep Candidates
Katie Svendson is a middle school band director in Grand Forks Public Schools. She teaches 6-8th grade concert band, 7-8th jazz band, and an after-school modern band club. She is also the assistant conductor for the Northern Valley Youth Orchestra Philharmonic ensemble and a private trumpet instructor. Katie is in her third and final year of study at Florida State University to earn her Masters in Music Education. At FSU, she has grown in her understanding and passion for music education philosophy, research, and advocacy. Katie values the resources, community, opportunities, and mentorship that organizations like NDMEA and NAfME can provide for teachers and students.
Katie graduated from the University of South Dakota in 2018 where she was a music education major performing in the symphonic band, symphony orchestra, jazz band, and marching band. While at USD, she served as the president of the Collegiate NAfME chapter and head drum major for the marching band. Upon graduation in 2018, Katie spent two years teaching middle school band and jazz band in Montevideo, MN.
Katie Svendson
East Band Rep Candidate
Amy DeWitt
East General Music Rep Candidate
Amy DeWitt is in her thirteenth year of teaching elementary music. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of North Dakota and her Masters degree in Music Education from North Dakota State University.
Amy earned a certificate of Kodaly Mastery from Minnesota State University-Moorhead and also completed Level III Orff training at the University of St. Thomas. Currently, she teaches K-5 elementary music and chorus at Century Elementary School in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Outside of school, she helps direct Primo Voce of the Grand Cities Children's Choir. She lives in Grand Forks with her husband Kyle of ten years and their cat, Lily.
Andria Juarez
East General Music Rep Candidate
Andria Juarez is the current Elementary and 7-12 Choir Director at the North Star School District in Cando, ND. She previously taught K-12 music at the TGU School District in Granville, ND.
Andria graduated with her Bachelors and Masters degree from North Dakota State University and is in her fifth year of teaching. Andria is a member of the ACDA and NAfME.
In her spare time, Andria is a member of the Devils Lake Community Orchestra and the new music director for the Fort Totten Little Theatre. Andria lives in Devils Lake with her husband and two German Shepherds.
Annette Hovey
East Choral Rep Candidate
Annette Hovey currently teaches 7-12 choir and 5-12 band at New Rockford-Sheyenne High School in New Rockford, ND. Along with those duties, she has incorporated classes in Music Theory, Music Appreciation, Guitar, Jazz Band, Madrigal Singers and Pop Singers into the music curriculum. She is also a music minister at St. John’s Catholic Church, an accompanist at First Lutheran Church, and is active in Dakota Prairie Regional Center for the Arts of New Rockford as a Youth Camp Director, actor, and pianist.
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She is in her 25th year of teaching and throughout her career has had the privilege to teach at all levels of the public school music curriculum. Before moving to New Rockford, she taught K-12 music at Climax-Shelley School in Climax, MN, then moved to East Grand Forks, MN and taught 6-8 choir, 3rd, 4th, and 6th grade general music. Annette also runs a private studio and teaches piano, guitar and voice lessons. In the past 10 years, Annette’s high school musicians have earned countless star ratings at large group, small group, and solo contests, including 11 Outstanding Performance Awards at state solo and ensemble contest. In the fall of 2018, Annette was named one of four finalists for 2019 North Dakota Teacher of the Year sponsored by North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. She was also chosen by the Governor to receive the 2019 North Dakota Governor’s Award for the Arts in Education.
Professionally, Annette is a member of NAfME, ACDA, NBA, NDMEA, NDACDA, and NDNBA and has had students involved in all the state festivals and honor groups sponsored by these organizations. This included a trip with two of her students to the National Honor Festival sponsored by NAfME in 2017.
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Rich Gonzales
East Orchestra Rep Candidate
Rich Gonzales serves as Director of Orchestras at Sheyenne High School in West Fargo, ND. In addition to three curricular ensembles, he directs the Sheyenne Chamber Orchestra, The Mustang Quartet, and the pit orchestra for the winter musical.
Rich maintains a private double bass studio and performs with several organizations, including the FM Symphony, Opera and Ballet. His passion is building positive relationships with students and making music for the community.
Rich is a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and has since returned to his alma mater to earn his Master of Music in Music Education.